University Rises Among Top 100 Best Value Colleges in the Country

Kiplinger’s considers student-faculty ratio in its rankings. The average student-to-faculty ratio at UT Dallas is 21-1.

The University of Texas at Dallas has again been featured in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s list of 100 best values in public colleges for 2014. The ranking lists four-year schools that deliver a quality education at an affordable price.

Gaining 21 spots, the University rose to 39th this year from 60th last year.

“To be recognized for a combination of both academic excellence and economic value is a testament that we are realizing our goal of maintaining quality during a time of steady growth,” said UT Dallas President David E. Daniel. “The ranking also signifies that our students are making a smart investment in our current economy. The faculty and staff at UT Dallas have worked to create a truly valuable place for our students, and I am confident that our local community and our state will benefit.”

For the rankings, Kiplinger’s considers admission rate, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio and four-year graduation rate. UT Dallas also was selected for its high four-year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, abundant financial aid, a low sticker price and overall value.

“The college landscape today is very different – tuition increases and student debt dominate the national conversation surrounding higher education,” said Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. “This year’s top 100 schools have made admirable strides to maintain academic integrity and standards while meeting the financial needs of their students.”

The annual public school rankings appear in Kiplinger’s February 2014 issue, which will be on newsstands Dec. 31. It is available online now at kiplinger.com/links/college.

Three other schools in Texas also made the 2014 list. Texas A&M University was listed 17th, The University of Texas at Austin was 21st and Texas Tech University was 87th.